World War 1

Main Idea: In Europe, military buildup, nationalistic

feelings & rival alliances set the stage for a continental war.

The first World War began on August 4, 1914,

when German troops poured into Belgium.

The U.S. wanted to stay neutral and stay out

of the war, but they soon found neutrality to

be difficult and the U.S. entered the war in

1917.

•Militarism

•Alliance System

•Imperialism

•Nationalism

Long Term Causes of WWI

Nationalism:

The Belief that national interests

& national unity should be

placed ahead of global

cooperation & that a nation’s

foreign affairs should be guided

by its own self interest.

Imperialism:

Imperialism caused European

nations to compete with one

another due to industrialism &

the need for raw materials. All

of which created an underlying

tension in Europe

Militarism: (The development of armed forces & their use as a tool of

diplomacy)

Because of nationalism & imperialism European nations began building up

their armed forces. Each nation wanted its armed forces to be stronger than

those of any potential enemy.

By 1890, Germany was the strongest nation in Europe. They set up an army

reserve system that drafted young men, trained them & then returned them to

civilian life until they were needed.

Alliance System:

Nationalism, Imperialism & Militarism

created mutual hostility, jealousy, fear &

desires between the nations of Europe,

which ultimately led to the signing of

treaties between these various nations.

These treaties committed them to support

one another if they faced attack. There

were two major alliances:

Two major mutual-defense alliances

Triple Entente

Later known as the ALLIES

•FRANCE

•GREAT BRITAIN

•RUSSIA (who also had a

separate treaty with Serbia)

Triple Alliance

Later known as the Central

Powers

•GERMANY

•AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

•ITALY (In 1915, Italy joins

the ALLIES in return for

promised territorial gains)

•OTTOMAN EMPIRE (an

empire of mostly Middle

Eastern lands controlled by the

Turks (Turkish people)

Leaders

The alliances provided a measure of international security because

nations were reluctant to disturb the balance of power.

The shot which sparked WWI

Most of the European continent’s leading powers had an interest in the Balkan

Peninsula.

Russia wanted to gain an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea.

Germany wanted to extend the railroad between itself & the Ottoman Empire.

In 1908, Austria annexed (or took over) Bosnia & Herzegovina, which were two areas

with large Slavic populations. And which outraged Serbian leaders because they

wanted to rule these two provinces.

The possibility of war arose. Russia offered Serbia their full support because they have

a treaty with Serbia; but Germany has Austria’s back. Since Russia is completely

unprepared for war, both Serbia & Russia have to back down.

Furthermore, by 1914, Serbia had emerged victorious from several local conflicts,

which allowed Serbia to gain additional territory & more confidence. They were eager

to take Bosnia & Herzegovina away from Austria.

In response, Austria-Hungary vows to crush any Serbian effort to undermine its

authority in the Balkans.

The Balkan

Peninsula

AKA

The Powder Keg

of Europe

On June 28, 1914, The streets of

Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia) were

lined with people who had gathered

to see Archduke Franz Ferdinand

(the nephew of Emperor Franz

Joseph & the heir to the Austrian

throne).

He along with his wife Sophie waved

to the crowds of people as their car

moved along.

Suddenly, a young

man leaped

toward them from

the curb & before

the guards could

react, he fired a

series of shots,

killing the

Archduke & his

wife.

Gavrilo Princip

The killer was a 19 year-old member of the

BLACK HAND. A secret society

committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian

rule & unite all Serbs

including those

living in Bosnia

under one

government

Princip's act gave Austria-Hungary the

excuse that it had sought for opening

hostilities against Serbia and thus

precipitated World War I. Today's

bridge in Sarajevo, nearby the place

where the actual assassination took

place, is named after this hero.

On July 23, Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum (a list of

demands that if not met, will led to serious consequences):

•End all anti-Austrian activity

•Serbian leaders would have to allow Austrian officials into their

country to conduct an investigation in the assassinations.

Serbia knew that refusing the ultimatum would lead to war, so they

agreed to most of Austria’s demands. Serbia wanted to have several

other demands settled by an international conference.

Austria was in no mood to negotiate anything, so on July 28, 1914,

Austria declared war on Serbia.

On the same day, Serbia’s ally, Russia took action & ordered the

mobilization of troops toward the Austrian border.

Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against Serbia set off a chain reaction

within the alliance system. The countries of Europe followed through on their

numerous & complex pledges to support one another. As a result, nearly all the

nations of Europe soon were drawn into the war.

Austria-Hungary Serbia Declares War

Russia

Russia (Serbia’s ally)

moves its army toward the

Russian- Austrian border.

Russia also mobilized

along the German border

Germany

As a result of Russia

mobilization to the Russian-

German border, Germany

declares war on Russia on

Aug. 1st.

France

Great Britain

Russia looked to France for

help. 2 days later (Aug 3)

not waiting for France to

react, Germany declares

war on France

Britain who is linked to France, declares war on Germany & Austria-Hungary on

Aug 4th after Germany invades Belgium (a neutral country) to get to France.

Triple Alliance/Central

Powers Triple Entente/Allies